Global Housing Leaders Discuss Housing Affordability in Special NAHB Webinar
Housing leaders from across the world met to discuss housing affordability in a recent shop talk hosted by NAHB. Kevin Lee, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders Association, and Filiep Loosveldt, Build-Europe Managing Director, joined NAHB CEO Jerry Howard for a discussion about the challenges and solutions to housing affordability as documented in “Housing Affordability — A World Challenge,” by the International Housing Association (IHA).
The IHA reports notes that a successful housing system in any country has people consistently advancing up the housing continuum — that is, from temporary emergency housing like homeless shelters through government-funded or subsidized housing and ultimately to homeownership at market rates. But a global housing affordability crisis is putting pressure on the top end of the housing continuum, homeownership.
“Housing affordability has been an increasing problem in the U.S. across the entire housing spectrum,” said Howard in the shop talk. “The ability of the average American to pay their mortgage is becoming more and more of a challenge.”
Noting similar issues affecting affordability across the United States, Canada and Europe, all agreed that home builders and others involved in residential construction need to focus on elected leadership that will reduce regulatory barriers — such as onerous zoning — and, in the short term, address supply chain and workforce development issues.
Watch a recording of the shop talk below.
Latest from NAHBNow
Sep 03, 2025
Project Funding Crisis: How Top Builders Secure Money When Others Can'tRelying solely on a traditional lender is risky in today’s environment. Smart builders line up more than one source of funding. That way, projects stay on track, crews keep working, and reputations stay solid.
Sep 03, 2025
How Building Codes Can – and Can’t – Help in FloodsCould enhanced building codes help save lives and property in flood-prone areas? Perhaps. But it is important to note there are already enhanced building codes required in flood zones.
Latest Economic News
Sep 03, 2025
Open Construction Jobs Rise in JulyThe count of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry increased in July, per the June Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) as the national labor market cooled.
Sep 03, 2025
House Price Appreciation by State and Metro Area: Second Quarter 2025House price growth continued to slow in the second quarter of 2025, as the housing market faces mounting pressure from high mortgage rates, elevated inventory, and persistent economic uncertainty.
Sep 02, 2025
June Private Residential Construction Spending Edges HigherPrivate residential construction spending inched up 0.1% in June, registering the first monthly gain after six consecutive declines.